A magnitude 4.4 earthquake has shaken central New Zealand.

The quake was recorded about 3.12pm and was centred 25km northwest of Paraparaumu, GeoNet said on Sunday. It had a depth of 45km and the intensity was light.

Many people took to Twitter to say they felt the quake.

“Whoah, felt that one,” science commentator Peter Griffin tweeted.

GeoNet recorded 1625 reports of the quake being felt within 15 minutes but only one said it was strong.

There are no immediate reports of damage.

The quake was followed by another one measuring 2.6. That quake was centred northwest of Gisborne and had a depth of 17km on an initial analysis.